| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Complaint Number: 002097186 | Incident Date: Jul, 14 2002 |
| Consumer's City: PALMYRA | Consumer's State: WI |
| Vehicle Transmission Type: | Manufacturers Name: COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| Model Name: COACHMEN | Model Year: 1999 |
| Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No | Component's Description: Steering:linkages |
| Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No | Persons Injured: 0 |
| Vehicle's VIN#: 4UZ6XFBC8WC | Date added to File: May, 25 2021 |
| Date Complaint Received: Aug, 03 2002 | Complaint Type: IVOQ |
| Incident Reported To Police: No | Purchase Date: Jun, 30 2002 |
| Was Original Owner: No | Anti-lock Brakes: Yes |
| Number of Cylinders: 0 | Date of Manufacturer: - |
| Was Vehicle Towed: - | Description of the Complaints: I noticed a loud "clunk" sound below the drivers seat whenever i hit a very large bump, i.e. railroad tracks, pothole, etc. and could feel a "clunk" in the steering wheel. i crawled under the mh and started pushing/pulling on the steering linkage to see if a tie rod was about to fall off. when i pushed/pulled on the tie rod between the left wheel and the idler arm, i got a "clunk" sound. i found i could move the arm about 2" sideways (left/right) at the point of the idler arm. upon checking it out i found the nut on the top of the steering idler arm was loose. after removing the cotter pin, i could remove the nut and idler arm with my fingers. a cotter pin is all that was keeping us from going in any direction it would have wanted to go, without any steering control whatsoever. my family of five had just completed a journey that took us over the chicago skyway, hundreds of feet in the air! to think what could have happened gives me goosebumps. i inspected the idler arm and pivot stud for wear and not noticing any, replaced the idler arm, tightened the nut and installed the cotter pin. i don't know if this problem has come up before but it would not be the type of problem to be noticed if someone wasn't specifically looking for it. with it being so new, a mechanic may not look for loose (worn) steering parts.*ak |
